Enormous underarm boil... does this need a doctor?

[lemonsandgingerbeer]

Apologies for the stubble

This has come up over the last 4 days and it's super-annoying. Magnesium sulphate hasn't done much, nor have hot compresses (although it has grown pretty big pretty fast).

Should I get to the docs to have it drained?

[Gilly12345]

Please just contact your GP surgery. 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

[ChuckNoWorriesMyWay]

So gross yet so satisfying!

[CrotchetyQuaver]

That's a doctor job, looks like an abscess to me and it's going to need packing and dressing on a regular basis once it bursts.
Is it very painful, I'd call 111 about that and they should refer you on to see a doctor.

[pollyglot]

I would show you my abscess, but it's...ahem...perianal. Without doubt, the most painful thing I have ever experienced, other than pushing out a 4.5 kg sprog. Doc originally told me I had piles. Yeah, right. Good luck, all MNers who are suffering nasties like this.

[BlowDryRat]

Why does this never happen to me? :( I keep inspecting DH's back for blackheads but he doesn't get them either.

[mummymayhem18]

I have just taken my last dose of flucloxacillin for a abscess on the left side of my labia majora. Think I'm going to have to go back to the doctors though as it's still not gone completely. I had been on them for 2 weeks as the normal dose of 500mg x 4 a day didn't do anything so they doubled the dose but there is still something there. 🤮😩. I also now have on top of that really painful and itchy thrush from taking the antibiotics 😩. It's never straightforward is it 🤷🏼‍♀️. I feel your pain.

[2018SoFarSoGreat]

oh poor OP. I approached this thread with equal measures of horror and anticipation, I confess. I am suitably ashamed.

I am truly sorry for your pain, it looks horrendous! Don't pop it until you feel it is ready. Don't let us push you in that direction. Therein lies misery. When the time is right, however, do not forget your ardent supporters here :)

[SpaceRaiders]

Any abscess in the armpit is the most painful thing known to woman. And so frustrating as you can’t get at it to squeeze.

I had some blocked pores from using Mitchum deo stick. They were literally 8 little round pea sized lumps which then became infected one by one over a 12 month period. I took a clean needle poked and prodded to make a hole then squeezed until all the grey gunk came out. You wouldn’t pay me to ever use a stick deodorant again.

[NOTANUM]

Pulling up a chair and settling down with
my knitting!

[WingingItSince1973]

I had several of these in both armpits a few weeks after I recovered from covid back in Feb. Doctor prescribed antibiotics and they went away sadly nothing to get excited about. I do get small ones when I'm run down. Must admit anything lumpy under armpit or near boob always worries me. Can't wait to see more pics!!!

[JedRambosteen]

You must have serious willpower not to crack open that bad boy.

[Fozzleyplum]

Teenage DS is prone to these and they quickly grow HUGE. So far, on each occasion he has been prescribed antibiotics and, a few days in to the course, the boil pops. The most recent one was very satisfying. It suddenly came to a head and a sort of ribbon of solidified pus poked out. I pulled on it gently and "delivered", much in the style of James Herriott delivering a calf, a sac of bloody pus. There was more pus behind it which I squeezed out and then the whole thing deflated and healed over a couple of days.

[thenewduchessofhastings]

I watch far too much Doctor pimple popper........if you like this sort of thread then you'll love her and her videos

[EveryoneIsThere]

Ouch!
Good luck OP

[Pieceofpurplesky]

Oh my. Am glad I am having an insomniac episode or I would never have found this.

Good luck OP

[PearPickingPorky]

I'm not a sporner, but I am fascinated.

[MilesOfSand]

@PearPickingPorky

I'm not a sporner, but I am fascinated.

You are now!

[Oblomov21]

Wasabi
🤮
Man that is grim. Hope you are ok OP. Please contact your GP again.

[Watchingreruns]

The upside of not sleeping...

OP hope you’re doing ok

[lemonsandgingerbeer]

@Gilly12345

Please just contact your GP surgery. 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

I appreciate there's lots of things on this thread to turn you green, but if you found the stomach to RTFT you'll find I've been, thanks

Also, knitters, placemarkers, ardent fans of The Boil Pit... I have bad news (for you, at least.)

She popped. In my sleep. Last night. Woke up with dried goop all over my arm and side-boob. Gross.

She's about half the size she was, now –still pink and chonky, but much less tender and she's got a blood-red beret on.

I'm going to crack on with the antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and if she's not improving over the weekend I'll pop back to the docs on Monday...

@SpaceRaiders that's exactly what I had –for weeks before it turned into this, I just had a little hard pea-sized lump in my armpit. Thought it was just a lymph node or something so ignored it. I wonder if it was a deodorant thing too?

@mummymayhem18 ooooh I feel your pain... I'm also on strong antibiotics (which I usually never take) and they are doing some VERY interesting things to my guts.

Good thing DP is away for work –between the Boil Pit and regular dashes to the toilet, I am QUITE the sexpot right now

[halfhope]

I had a little hard lump too which was the ingrown hairs. It then swelled up like yours. I'm glad it's feeling a little better. Warm salt water is also a natural antibiotic.

[LemonJuiceFromConcentrate]

@Fozzleyplum

Teenage DS is prone to these and they quickly grow HUGE. So far, on each occasion he has been prescribed antibiotics and, a few days in to the course, the boil pops. The most recent one was very satisfying. It suddenly came to a head and a sort of ribbon of solidified pus poked out. I pulled on it gently and "delivered", much in the style of James Herriott delivering a calf, a sac of bloody pus. There was more pus behind it which I squeezed out and then the whole thing deflated and healed over a couple of days.

Standing ovation for that description, Fozzley 👏👏👏

[LemonJuiceFromConcentrate]

Really pleased for you OP, even if we missed the action! Sounds like a healthy development

[CornedBeef451]

@SpaceRaiders I had a sort of chemical burn from Mitchum.

Both armpits scabbed up but the scabs didn't come off as they didn't really dry out.

Eventually I just peeled the massive scabs off revealing very tender pink skin underneath. Eventually they healed but it was a rough couple of months.

[RomComPhooey]

[quote CornedBeef451]@SpaceRaiders I had a sort of chemical burn from Mitchum.

Both armpits scabbed up but the scabs didn't come off as they didn't really dry out.

Eventually I just peeled the massive scabs off revealing very tender pink skin underneath. Eventually they healed but it was a rough couple of months. [/quote]
I managed to give myself mild chemical burns on Sunday bleaching my ‘tache for a job interview on Monday morning. Thank God for Teams interviews and careful lighting, as I got away with it on Monday. The weeping burns scabbed over on Monday night. They are drying out quickly though. Armpit burns sound grim.

(PS I got the job.)